Improvement in machines for sawing and splitting wood



. 2Sheets--Sheet1. A. G. HAGERSTROM.

Machines for Sawing and Splitting Wood. No. 135,332.Patentedjan.28,1873.

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Machines for Sawing and Splitting Wood.

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ANDRE'W G. HAGERSTROM, OF RED \VING, MINNESOTA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,332, dated January'28, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW G. HAGER- STRtiM, of Red Wing, in the countyof Goodhue and in the State of Minnesota, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Wood Sawing and Splitting Machines; and do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a partof this specification, in which Figure l is a plan view of the upperside of my improved device; Figs. 2 and 3 are elevations of oppositesides of the same; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of theblock andholder employed for sustaining the stick of wood while being split.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

The object of my invention is to enable wood to be sawed and split bythe continuous operation of one machine, so as thereby to simplify theoperation, and reduce the cost of the mechanism employed; and to thisend said invention consists, principally, in the construction of thesplitting blade or ax and the supporting-block, and their combinationwith each other and with the operating mechanism, substantially as andfor the purpose hereinafter shown. It consists, further, in the meansemployed for sustaining in an upright position the stick to be split,and for automatically moving the same to one side after having beenoperated upon, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter setforth. It consists, finally, in the rolling supports for and by means ofwhich the machine may be moved from place to place, substantially as ishereinafter shown and described.

In the annexed drawing, A and A represent two sills, connected togetherat or near their ends by means of two cross-bars,.B and G, in the mannershown in Fig. 1, the forward ends of said sills being at but a shortdistance apart, while their rear ends are sufficiently separated toenable a man to stand between the same, the whole forming the base ofthe main frame of the machine. Extending verzontal bar, F, which has aline corresponding to a line passing fore and aft through the center ofthe base. The bars F furnish bearings for two boxes, G, within which isjournaled a shaft, H, that has secured to or upon its center aband-wheel, I, and upon each of its ends a crank, K, said shaft being soarranged as to permit said wheel to revolve in a vertical plane, and ina line, fore and aft, with the center of the frame. The forwardcross-bar 0 extends laterally outward beyond the sills, and from itsends extend vertically upward two posts, L, which are connected togetherby means of a horizontal cross-bar, M, and are each provided with arail, N, that rests upon and is secured to the upper end of said post,and extends horizontally forward and rearward to equal distances. Twoother posts, L extend upward from near the center of the cross-bar O,and in a line with the posts L, and between the same is secured a thirdrail, N, which from thence extends forward to a point corresponding tothe ends of the rails N. The upper portions of the centerposts L furnisha support for a saw-arbor, O, which is suitably journaled within boxes 0attached to the front side of said posts, and is provided between thelatter with a pulley, 1, and upon one of its ends with a circular saw,Q. A belt, It, passing around the wheel I and pulley P, enables thesaw-arbor and saw to be rotated by the turning of said wheel. Restingupon the rails N and N is a frame composed of two bars, S, whichcorrespond in general dimensions with said rails, and are connectedtogether at their forward ends by means of a third bar, T, that hasalength equal to the distance between the outer faces of said rails. Thelower side of the frame is provided with friction-rollers, while itsvertical and lateral position is insured by means of two guides, U,which extend upward from the outer sides of each rail N, along thecorresponding face of the bars S, and have their upper ends turnedhorizontally inward over the latter, such arrangement leaving said framefree to move forward or back in a line with the saw. Four rollers, T,pivoted within the frame, and within two right-angled braces, s, thatextend inward and then forward from each bar S, furnish a rolling bed orsupport, upon which the sticks of wood to be'sawed may be movedlongitudinally, or in a line at a right angle to the plane of the saw,for the purpose of bringin g the different portions of said sticks atthe points where they are to be severed in a line with said saw.

In order that the belt may be caused to embrace a larger portion of theperiphery of the pulley P, and also that said belt may be elevated abovethe splitting mechanism, a pulley, U, is pivoted within suitablesupports immediately in front of the driving-wheel I, and a little belowthe level of said pulley P, and the belt B caused to pass over the same,as shown. If desired, the pulley Umay be made adjustable vertically, soas to operate as a belttightener.

After having been cut from the stick, the length of wood passes downwardand rearward through a suitable metal chute,V, and strikes endwise uponor against a supporting-block, W, that rests upon the sills A andextends upward and rearward upon a line with the center of the shaft ofthe driving-wheel, in which position said stick is sustained by means ofa metal holder, X, that, as seen in Fig. 4, is constructed in twopieces, which are pivoted at or near their longitudinal centers to orupon a stud, .90, so as to cause their forward ends to be spread apartby the closing together of their rear ends.

The forward end of the holder has the form of the cutting portion of apair of cut-nippers, and into the cylindrical opening shown is receivedthe stick of wood as it falls from the sawing-frame, the sides of saidholder furnishing a support for the same.

When held in the position described, the block of wood is split by meansof an ax or blade, Y, which is secured to and extends radially outwardfrom one side of the drivingwhcel in such a position as to bring it in aline with the transverse center of said stick. The ax or blade isprovided with one or more transverse blades, y, so as to enable thestick to be divided into as many parts as may be desired, while withinthe supportingblock W are formed suitable channels or openings w,through which said splitting-blade passes.

After the stick has been split it is removed from the supporting-blockby the followingdescribed means: A shaft, A, is journaled verticallyupon or within the frame, upon the opposite side from the holder X, andin a line with its pivotal bearing 00, and is provided at or below itslongitudinal center with two arms, B and G, that extend radially outwardtherefrom in lines having relative angles of about ninety degrees. Fromthe arm B, which projects forward, a connection, D, extends across, andis attached to or upon the rear end of the contiguous section of theholder X, while from the second arm 0, which extends laterally outwardtoward the splitting mechanism, a connection, E, extends forward, and ispivoted to or upon one end of a wooden bar, F, that is suspended to orfrom the frame by means of two metal bars, G, which are pivoted to thesame, and to the ends of said wooden bar. By this arrangement it will beseen that if a longitudinal swinging motion be given to the bar F anoscillating movement will be communicated to the rock-shaft A, and therear end of the holder X caused to alternately I swing laterally outwardand then to return to position. In order that the desired movement ofparts may be effected, each of the metal bars G is extended upward andinward in a curve, so as to engage with stud g that projectshorizontally and laterally outward from the rim of the driving-wheel,said bars being so arranged that said stud striking against the rear barwill force its upper end rearward, and through the intervening mechanismmove the stick-holder outward to dump its con tents, after which saidstud, by striking against the forward bar, moves its upper end forwardand returns said parts to place. A spring, H

attached at one end to the forward end of the outer section of thestick-holder, and at its opposite end to or upon the contiguous post L,serves as an aid for returning said holder to place after having dumpedits load, and also to give an elastic inward pressure to the forwardends of the same, so as to enable them to conform to the size of thestick that is to be held.

In order that the machine may be readily transported from place toplace, and when in position caused to rest firmly upon the ground, thefollowing-described means are employed: A small ground-wheel, I, issuitablyjournaled within a forked bar, K, and the upper end of thelatter pivoted to or upon the outer face of each sill A, immediately infront of the crossbar B, the projecting ends of which furnish a bearingfor the rear side of said forked bar, and prevent it from swingingrearward beyond a vertical line. The forked bars are each pre ventedfrom swinging forward by means of a rod, M, which is pivoted at one endto or upon the forward side of the same, and has its forward hooked endengaged with a staple, m, that is secured within and extends outwardfrom the face of the sill, the whole being arranged to {permit saidforked bars and their rollers to be released from their verticalpositions, and turned upward and forward when it is desired to have therear end of the machine rest upon the ground. The front end of themachine is supported upon a caster-wheel, N which is pivoted within'thelower side of a roller, 0, that is journaled within suitable boxes P,which are secured to or upon the upper sides and forward ends of thesills A, the caster-frame it having a rotary movement in a horizontalplane within said roller. While in connection with the latter it iscapable of an upward and forward movement in a vertical plane, and in aline fore and aft with the machine. The caster-frame n has twohorizontal arms, a", which extend forward and afford a bearing for ametal brace, Q, which from thence extends upward and rearward,

and is'loosely connected to or with theforward end of the machine-frame,the office of which brace is to insure the radially-vertical position ofthe caster. By disengaging the upper end furnishes a simple, cheap, andefficient means whereby ordinary cord-wood maybe prepared forconsumption in stoves.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, whatI claim as new is 1. The splitting blade or ax Y and block W, whenconstructed as shown, and combined with the frame of the machine andwith the operating mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. The means employed for sustaining the block while being split and forafterward dumping the same, consisting of the holder X, the rock-shaft Aprovided with the arms B and O, the connecting-rods D and E, the woodenbar F, and the metal bars G, when constructed as shown, and combinedwith each other, with the frame of the machine, and with thedriving-wheel, substantially as described.

3. The means employed for furnishing a roll ing support to the machine,consisting of the ground-wheels I, the forked pivoted bars K,

the hooked rods M, the staples m, the caster N, the roller 0, the braceQ, and the draft rod B, when constructed and combined with the frame ofthe machine substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this25th day of April, 1872,

A. G. HAGERSTROM.

Witnesses:

GEO. S. PRINDLE, EDM. F. BROWN-

